Stock Market & Financial Investment News

FBI reports over 2M November firearm background checksThe Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 2,006,919 total background checks performed in November via the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System, or NICS, according to data published on its website. This compares to 1,534,414 checks in November 2011. The NICS is used by Federal Firearms Licensees to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to purchase firearms or explosives, the FBI notes on its site. Shares of publicly-traded gun makers are off their earlier lows, with Smith & Wesson (SWHC) up 7c, or 0.66%, to $10.67 in late morning trading after being in negative territory earlier in the session. Sturm, Ruger & Company (RGR) shares are down 32c, or 0.55%, to $58.27 after falling as low as $56.67 in earlier trading. Reference Link

Sturm, Ruger declares Q2 dividend of 36c per shareThe company announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of 36c per share for the second quarter for stockholders of record as of August 14, payable on August 28. This dividend varies every quarter because the company pays a percent of earnings rather than a fixed amount per share. This dividend is approximately 40% of net income.